Framehawk Virtual Channel

Administrator Guide
For XenApp 7.6 Feature Pack 2 and XenDesktop 7.6 Feature Pack 2

Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................ 3
The issues Framehawk addresses .................................................................................................. 3
System Requirements ................................................................................................ 3
Network considerations ................................................................................................................... 4
Installation .................................................................................................................. 5
To install the VDA for XenApp and XenDesktop Version 7.6 Feature Pack 2 ................................. 5
To install the Citrix HDX WMI Provider feature pack ....................................................................... 5
Install the GPO update package ...................................................................................................... 6
Configuration .............................................................................................................. 7
To configure Citrix policy ................................................................................................................. 7
Monitoring and using Framehawk ............................................................................ 14
Monitoring with Citrix Director ........................................................................................................ 14
Known Issues ........................................................................................................... 16

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About Citrix

Citrix (NASDAQ:CTXS) is leading the transition to software-defining the workplace, uniting virtualization,
mobility management, networking and SaaS solutions to enable new ways for businesses and people to
work better. Citrix solutions power business mobility through secure, mobile workspaces that provide
people with instant access to apps, desktops, data and communications on any device, over any network
and cloud. With annual revenue in 2014 of $3.14 billion, Citrix solutions are in use at more than 330,000
organizations and by over 100 million users globally. Learn more at www.citrix.com.
Copyright 2015 Citrix Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Citrix, Citrix Receiver, and StoreFront are trademarks of
Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one of its subsidiaries, and may be registered in the U.S. and other countries. Other
product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.

Introduction
XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 Feature Pack 2 introduce Framehawk, a new ICA virtual channel extending
the Citrix HDX technologies. These technologies are a set of capabilities that work together to deliver a
high definition in-session user experience of virtual desktops and applications for users running Citrix
Receiver. The Framehawk virtual channel optimizes the delivery of virtual desktops and applications to
users on broadband wireless connections, when high packet loss or congestion occurs.
You can use Citrix Policies to implement either Framehawk or Thinwire (enabled by default) for a set of
users in a way that is appropriate for your network characteristics and is aligned with overall scalability
and performance expectations. This guide shows you how.

The issues Framehawk addresses

The growth of the mobile workforce has enabled productivity from anywhere, anytime, which allows
access to business resources inside or outside the physical office. Technologies such as Citrix HDX are
designed to maintain the same level of user experience, whether on remote connection, or on a direct,
wired, connection to the office network. These technologies are pushed to their limits when mobile users
connect over WiFi and cellular networks where issues such as intermittent or poor connectivity exist due
to network congestion, high packet loss or high latency. Due to retransmissions and time-outs on such
networks, pages take longer to load, the connection is frequently disrupted, and user inputs fail to
register. Framehawk is resilient to such conditions and maintains a smooth user experience where other
technologies start to falter.
How Framehawk maintains a smooth user experience
The Framehawk virtual channel is a UDP-based extension to the ICA protocol used by the Citrix HDX that
complements the TCP-based Thinwire display channel. But UDP transport is only a small part of the
story. Using a proprietary, intelligent algorithm, Framehawk maintains the communication between server
and client even if a heavy loss of packets occurs on the network. Normally such conditions would cause
intolerable drag and frustration. With Framehawk, however, the smooth user experience is maintained
whether scrolling up and down a virtual desktop, rotating a drawing in a virtual app, or entering data into a
form from a remote corner of the world. Framehawk is designed for use cases that demand an
uninterrupted user experience. It is not optimized for saving server resources and bandwidth.
Note: When network conditions are good and packet loss is low, Citrix recommends the use of Thinwire,

not the Framehawk virtual channel.

System Requirements
Framehawk is available as an added feature for the Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) in XenApp and
XenDesktop 7.6 FP2. The delivery controller servers do not require an upgrade. On the endpoint,
Framehawk requires an upgrade to Citrix Receiver for Windows 4.3.
Note: Connections through NetScaler Gateway are not currently supported.
The following prerequisites are required to use the Framehawk virtual channel:

XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 or later

XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 FP2
Citrix Director 7.6.300
Citrix Receiver for Windows 4.3

The components required for Framehawk are packaged in a .ZIP file on Citrix download site. The
Framehawk_76_FP2.zip contains the following components:
Update the Virtual Delivery Agent

VDA hotfix for XenApp and XenDesktop Version 7.6 or later:

o ICAWS760WX64026.msp for x64 machines, 32-bit Desktop OS

o ICAWS760WX86026.msp for x86 machines, 64-bit Desktop OS
o ICATS760WX64032.msp for x64 machines, 64-bit server
Citrix Director 7.6.300
o WMIProxy_x86(x64).msi
Citrix HDX WMI Provider hotfix:
o HDXWMIPROV220WX64001.msi

Delivery Controller

Group Policy Objects (GPO) update. This is installed on the delivery controller for Citrix Studio
integration:
o GPMx240WX86002.msi for x86 machines, 32-bit OS
o GPMx240WX64002.msi for x64 machines, 64-bit OS

Citrix Director 7.6.300

o XDPoshModule760WX86002.msi
o XDPoshModule760WX64002.msi

Update Citrix Director

Citrix Director 7.6.300

o DesktopDirector.msi for x32 machines, 32-bit OS
o DesktopDirector_x64.msi for x64 machines, 64-bit OS

Update Windows end point

Citrix Receiver for Windows 4.3

Note: XenApp and XenDesktop allow policies to be enforced using multiple methods, and Citrix policies

in Studio is one of them. If you are using Active Directory for policy administration, you may install the
GPO package on the domain controller. If policies are enforced locally on a particular VDA (for example,
as client service extensions, or CSE), the GPO package may be installed on the local machine (VDA).
Citrix recommends that you select one method and continue using that method.

Network considerations
Consider the following best practices when implementing Framehawk functionality:

The following UDP ports must be open: 3224-3324. For additional information on configuring
these ports, see configuring Citrix policy later in this document.

After defining the UDP port range, Framehawk attempts to use the first defined port, working up
to the final port specified in the range.

Note: Only a single UDP port is required per concurrent session; when configuring the port range, define
as many ports as required by your network. For a XenDesktop installation, a single UDP port can be
defined for the whole server; to further secure your network, reduce the number of ports in the range.

Installation
You must install the following components in this order:
1. VDA hotfix
2. WMI Provider feature pack
3. GPO update package

To install the VDA hotfix for XenApp and XenDesktop Version 7.6 Feature Pack 2
1. Ensure the infrastructure servers with XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 FP1 or later are installed and
configured correctly.
2. Install the VDA hotfix appropriate for your operating system.
3. After completing the installation, restart the VDA.

To install the Citrix HDX WMI Provider feature pack

This section is only applicable if you are updating a VDA running a server operating system. For a
desktop operating system, the Citrix HDX WMI Provider feature pack is updated automatically with the
VDA feature pack.
Note: To update Director 7.6.300, locate and run the WMIProxy_x86(x64).msi.
To install the HDX WMI provider hotfix

1. Select the 64-bit server feature pack installer for the WMI Provider feature pack (labeled
HDXWMIPROV220WX64001.msi).

2. A security warning may appear. Click Run.

3. The Setup Wizard appears. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

4. After installation completes, restart the VDA.

Install the GPO update package

New Citrix policy objects for Framehawk must be added to the Group Policy Management Console. The
Group Policy Object (GPO) update package is installed on the system where you define and control
policies, which is typically the system running Citrix Studio. Depending on your organizations practices, it
could instead be the domain controller or the local system.
Note: XenApp and XenDesktop allow policies to be enforced using multiple methods, and Citrix policies

in Studio is one of them. If you are using Active Directory for policy administration, you may install the
GPO package on the domain controller. If policies are enforced locally on a particular VDA (for example,
as client service extensions, or CSE), the GPO package may be installed on the local machine (VDA).
Citrix recommends that you select one method and continue using that method
1. Select the appropriate MSI installer package from the download for your operating system (32-
bit or 64-bit).

2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
3. Click Finish to exit the setup wizard.

Configuration
To configure Citrix policy
The Framehawk virtual channel is disabled by default. After completing the GPO installation update, you
must configure policies to enable Framehawk for appropriate users. When enabled, the server attempts
to use the Framehawk virtual channel for users graphics and input. Otherwise, the server falls back to
Thinwire.
Note: The Framehawk virtual channel is disabled by default. Use policies to enable it, and assign to users

on lossy, broadband wireless connections.

1. Start Studio and create a new policy for the Framehawk virtual channel.

2. On the Create Policy screen, locate the new Framehawk policy; type framehawk in the search
bar.

Use the search function to
quickly locate Framehawk
policies.

The Create Policy screen changes to display policies associated with the Framehawk virtual
channel. These policies include:
Framehawk display channel Use this policy to enable or disable the feature (see step
4 below).
Framehawk display channel port range Use this policy to define the range of ports
using the virtual channel (see step 6 below).

3. In Framehawk display channel, click Select.

4. On the Edit Setting screen, select Enabled and click OK.

5. On the Create Policy screen, in Framehawk display channel port range, click Select.

This Framehawk policy setting specifies the range of UDP port numbers (lowest port number to
highest port number) that the VDA uses to exchange Framehawk display channel data with the
user device. The VDA attempts to use each port, starting with the lowest port number and
incrementing for each subsequent attempt. The port handles inbound and outbound traffic.
Note: By default, the port range is UDP ports 3224 to 3324. See network considerations earlier in
this document for information about selecting the appropriate port range.
6. If required, enter the custom UDP port range and click OK.

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7. Click Next to continue with the configuration process and then assign the policy to users,
Delivery Group, or virtual machines on broadband wireless connections experiencing high
packet loss.

Caution: Citrix recommends that you enable Framehawk only for users experiencing high
packet loss. It is strongly recommended that you do not deploy Framehawk as a universal policy
for all objects in the Site.

This example associates the Framehawk policy to a Delivery Group. Click Assign.

8. On the Assign Policy screen, in the Delivery Group list, click the appropriate Delivery Group,
click OK and then Next.

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9. Specify a name for the new policy (for example, Enable Framehawk). Make sure the Enable
policy check box is selected and then click Finish.

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Ensure that the Enable policy

check box is selected.

The Framehawk display channel policy is displayed, enabled and assigned to a Delivery Group.
The policy must be applied through a GPO update and will take effect when the user reconnects
to the server.

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10. Apply the policy through a GPO update. This takes effect when users reconnect to the server.
From the command prompt in Administrator mode, type the following command:
C:\>gpupdate /force

Monitoring and using Framehawk

Citrix Director allows you to monitor use of he Framehawk virtual channel.

Monitoring with Citrix Director

Citrix Director 7.6.300 with the latest updates displays HDX graphics information for the Framehawk
virtual channel. The HDX Virtual Channel Details view contains useful information for troubleshooting
and monitoring the Framehawk virtual channel in any session. To view Framehawk virtual channel

performance using Director, you must install the HDX WMI Provider update on the VDA. See install the
Citrix HDX WMI Provider feature pack earlier in this document.
Note: The WMI Provider update is only required for XenApp VDAs.
The following figure illustrates the Director HDX panel. To view details specific to the Framehawk virtual
channel, select Graphics-Framehawk. The HDX Virtual Channel Details view appears.

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Displays the state of the virtual

channel and the current FPS
(frames per second).

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Monitoring Framehawk performance from the VDA

Use the following CLI commands to verify performance on the VDA
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Launch a command prompt (as an administrator).

Enter wmic on the command line, and press Enter.
Enter /NAMESPACE:\\root\citrix\hdx, and press Enter.
Enter path citrix_virtualchannel_framehawk_enum get /VALUE, and press Enter
Verify that Framehawk-specific data is returned.

Known Issues
The following issues are known as this release:

Connections through NetScaler Gateway are not currently supported.

Framehawk interoperability with XenDesktop HDX 3D Pro VDI VDA is not currently supported.
Citrix has not fully tested Framehawk interoperability with XenDesktop HDX 3D Pro VDI VDA.
However, both VDA versions (the standard XenDesktop VDI VDA and the XenApp RDS VDA)
can be used with graphics hardware acceleration. The standard XenDesktop VDA supports
DirectX graphics acceleration; XenApp 7.6 provides a unified graphics stack that includes HDX
3D Pro, offering both DirectX and OpenGL acceleration.
Note: Because Framehawk simply reads the frame buffer, it makes no difference whether the
graphics rendering was done by a GPU/IGP or by the CPU; Framehawk fully supports the use of
graphics acceleration with these two VDAs (the standard XenDesktop VDI VDA and the XenApp
RDS VDA).
Refer to the Framehawk blog for additional information.

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